July 21, 2010

What Are We To Do About Racism?

Earlier this year, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People passed leadership to what they are calling “the next generation of civil and human rights activists.” Forty-four year old Roslyn M. Brock is now Chairman of the venerable organization and 39 year-old Benjamin Todd Jealous is President and CEO. So, many are wondering what was in their minds when they allowed a resolution during their conference in Kansas City, Mo., calling on Tea Party activists to “repudiate the racist element and activities” within the political movement. Their reports alleged that the Tea Party has used racial epithets against President Barack Obama and verbally and physically abused African-American members of Congress. The resolution’s actual language will remain secret until it is approved later this year by the national board.

Reactions to the resolution proposals are flying fast and furious. For an organization with the legacy of the NAACP to say that the Tea Party Movement has some racist elements is like saying “institutionalized racism exists in America.” The NAACP leaders set themselves up for ridicule across a spectrum of mediums that allow the institutions of America’s institutionalized system to say that such an aberration “does not exist.” Racism is alive and living across America. That racism is present within some quarters of the Tea Party movement shouldn’t really surprise anyone

The surprise is the NAACP attacking a popular movement instead of aligning with them. The Tea Party is a national political success. It is a protest movement against government and its practices that now has millions of members whose philosophy is much more libertarian than racist.

This was about the NAACP attacking the Tea Party and this [the video of Sherrod] is showing racism at an NAACP event. I did not ask for Shirley Sherrod to be fired. I did not ask for any repercussions for Shirley Sherrod. They were the ones that took the initiative to get rid of her.